look news india
Russia Ukraine War: Agra's tourism business, which was already suffering losses due to the Russia-Ukraine war, has started deteriorating further with the tensions in West Asia. There are flights from India to America or Europe via Gulf countries, but due to tensions in West Asia, flights now have to go through Russian airways, which is also expensive due to its length. Due to this, tourists who had made advance booking to visit Agra in November have started canceling their bookings.
Tourism industry affected by Corona
Even in October, there has been a decline of up to 30 percent in bookings as compared to last year. In such a situation, Israeli citizens have also started returning home from Himachal. Tourism business in Agra was badly affected during the Corona period in 2020 and 2021. War broke out between Russia and Ukraine when Corona restrictions were lifted in February 2022. The number of Russian and Ukrainian tourists remained the same.
Impact of stress on tourism
In 2023, the train of inbound tourism (foreign tourism) is back on track anyway. Then 5.83 lakh foreign tourists came to see the Taj Mahal. The tourist season in Agra is from October to March. Now tension has increased in West Asia. Its widespread impact is visible on the tourism business of Agra.
Impact of American elections also
Sandeep Arora, President of Agra Tourism Development Foundation, said that 'Tourists like to travel in a peaceful environment. There is peace in India, but the effects of tension in Russia-Ukraine as well as in West Asia are beginning to be seen. Israeli and Iranian tourists have not come. Presidential elections are going to be held in America this year, which will also affect the tourists coming from America.
Israelis also started returning from Himachal to support the country
Israeli citizens have started returning to Himachal Pradesh to support the country in its time of crisis. Many tourist places in Mcleodganj and Kullu districts of Himachal attract many tourists from Israel every year. This is the reason why fewer tourists have come to Israel this year than before.
300 Israelis stayed
Manikarna and Kasol in Kullu district are favorite destinations of Israeli citizens. Kasol is also called Mini Israel. Israelis start coming to Kasol in April and they have built a Khabad House (place of worship) here. At present, more than 300 Israeli citizens are living in Kasol and Manali.
Bookings are also decreasing
They will celebrate Yom Kippur from October 12 to 15 and Simchat Torah on October 24 and 25. After which most of the Israeli citizens will go back to their homeland. Kishan Thakur, president of Hotel Association Parvati Valley, said Israelis visit Kasol from April to September. This time the number of Israeli tourists in Kasol is less and now bookings are also decreasing.
